Pneumatic caisson



2 Sheets-Sheet l.

Patented Nov. 5,1889.

/c 3 ,IC 0

(No Model.)

W. M. PATTON.

PNEUMATIC CAISSON.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

W. M. PATTON.

PNEUMATIC CAISSON.

No. 414,244. Patented Nov. 5, 1889.

WTNESSES: g? 40,44%

' UNITED -STATES PATENT OFFICE.

XVILLIAM M. PATTON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

PN EU MATIC CAISSON.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 414,244, dated November1889.

Application filed April 2, 1886. Serial No. 197,566. (No model.)

T0 all 1071/0772, it may concern:

Be it known that I, VILLIAM M. PATTON, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Pneumatic Caissons, whichimprovement is fully set forth in the following specification andaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure l represents a Vertical sectionof a pneumatic caisson embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents ahorizontal section thereof. Figs. 3 andl i represent vertical sectionsof modifications.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the severalfigures.

Myinvention has for its object the adaptability of a pneumatic caissonto be used in any depth of water or solid material; and it consists informing the air space or shaft into working chambers located one abovethe other, the partitions between the same being removable, wherebyadjacent chambers may be thrown into one. Other features are presented,as will be hereinafter fully set forth.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a caisson, which may be made ofwood or metal, or both, consisting of a crib or wall inclosing a spaceor shaft B, of any desired shape, the walls whereof are air-tight, thecaisson. being provided with appurtenances usual in such cases.

O represents horizontal partitions, which are secured to the walls ofthe shaft B of the caisson and located one above the other, dividing theshaft into chambers, denominated working-chambers," said partitionsforming the roofs or decks of said chambers, and are so constructed ofjoist-bearings, guides, duc., either of wood or metal, or both, boltedor screwed together, whereby they may be removed in part or entirely, asmay be required, in sinking to great depths. These partitions may be ofseveral thicknesses of material, if so desired, and are secured to thewalls in such manner as to be practically airtight, yet readily admittheir removal when necessary. Connected with each roof or deck is anair-lock D, which maybe of any well-known order, its ends being inadjacent chambers.

Aiilocks D may also be provided, leading from one air-shaft to another.

The open-built Walls of the caisson are iilled as the caisson sinks withconcrete, masonry or other heavy substance, the same providing thenecessary weight to sink the caisson, and forming part of the foundationproper, if desired.

After the caisson is sunk to the depth permitted by the maximumpractical pressure for working, the pressure being kept constant, thewater remains at the same level regardless of the further descent of thecutting-edge of the caisson below this level; consequently as eachsuccessive roof reaches this level so much of it is removed as isnecessary to open a suflicient space to permit working below from thechamber above, which then becomes the working-chamber, the roofs beingthus successively removed as greater depths are reached. In sinkingbelow the pneumatic limit the sand or other material may be dredgedoutand raised to the level of the lowest existing roof and deposited ina suitable trough or receptacle thereon, and thence removed to theoutside by suction or pump ordinarily used, or blown out by air -itselfthrough pipes, thereby saving great loss of time and expense as comparedwith the opencaisson method.

In cases where a pile foundation would be sufficient after reaching thelimit of depth of the pneumatic process or a less depth, a sufiicientnumber of roofs may be removed to give sufficient dpth to the lowerworking-chamber to permit the driving or settin g of piles. Above this asingle` air-lock of sufficient length is provided. By these means longpiles may be passed into the working-chamber below and driven into theunderlying material by an engine worked by compressed air or sunk by theuse ofthe jet. During the sinking of the caisson, and before reachingthe depth of maximum pressure, the air may be kept constant-ly at thatpressure, due to the depths, the actual pressure in the several chambersdecreasing from the bottom to the top. Means are provided for passingfrom one chamber to another either by isolated air-locks or bycontinuous shafts from top to bottom with ICO v shafts left in the wallsor cribs, all of which features tend to th e comfort, health, and safetyof the workmen.

By the use of the partitions C in the central shaft, having air -lookscommunicating between the chambers of said central shaft and the sideshafts, not only is the air-supply to the lower chambers or Vthe sidechambers made more certain,but the increased avenues of communicationafford more opportunities for escape, if necessary, from the lower sidechambers to t-he upper chambers, thereby adding to the safety of theworkers. At the same time the chambers thus made aid in controlling thesinking of the caisson as desir'ed. It is evident that by the use ofchambers located one above the other, the air-pressure in each beingthat due to their relative position, and the chambers being connected bylocks, the workmen will be forced to pass through the chambers, Whosepressure gradually decreases as they ascend, thereby greatly adding totheir health, and this is Without interfering With the proper working ofthe caisson. The pressure in the separate chambers will be regulated bysuitable valves. The upper chamber may constitute a dressing or waitingchamber for the workmen and be under any desired pressure.

In the side shaftsshown in Fig. 1 thebeams or supports C C3,betweenwhich the flooring of the partition C is secured, are shown as havingtheir ends built or embedded in the walls of the caisson. The flooringorpartition may consist either of cross-beams of timber, bolted orotherwise fastened together, and having packing between them, so as torender the partition air-tight, as shown in said side shafts, or itmaybe composed of metallic plates riveted together and secured to thesupports, as in the central shaft, Fig. 2. `In the said central shaftthe supports .or beams are secured 'in caps which are fastened to theWalls of the shaft. When it is desired to remove a partition the boltsor other means by which Vthe ooring or partition is secured together andto the supports are removed, so that the said partition can be readilytaken away from the supports, leaving the latter in place, the sameoffering little or no obstruction in the Way of the workmen and Servingas braces for the Walls of the shaft. y p

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters I l. A caisson having an air-shaft formed into aseries of Working-chambers located one above the other, substantially asdescribed.

2. A caisson having an air-shaft divided by horizontal partitions havingair-locks forming a series of chambers located one above the other,substantially as described.

3. A caisson having an air-shaft divided by horizontal partitionsforming a series of Working-chambers located one above the other, saidpartitions being partly or entirely removable, whereby adjacent chambersmay be united as one, substantially as described.

4. A caisson having an air-shaft formed with a series ofWorking-chambers and a series of air-locks, an air-lock communicatingwith adjacent chambers, substantially as described. A

XV. M. PATTON.

Witnesses:

JOHN A. WIEDERSHEIM, A. P. GRANT.

